Chapter 19- Manslayers Part 1
Haru lay asleep at the side of a grassy hill, his resting eyes shaded by his favorite blindfold. Shura stood beside him with a hand to her side. Both their faces were content. The afternoon felt especially pleasing to them. A warm sun was beating down on them, but countered by a constant breeze. It also served to stir up the green landscape that surrounded them.
Shura looked down at Haru and smiled. Even though she knew this moment would be interrupted, she couldn't help but enjoy what was before her.
She quickly became aware of a presence, one riddled with killer intent. Haru seemed to notice too as his gentle snoring came to a halt. With a frown, he slowly began to rise to his feet.
Haru said, "So he's finally here."
Shura focused her gaze to a figure in the distance that had just come into view. With both thumbs, she unlatched her katana from their sheaths.
"Haru," said Shura, "I'll take care of this."
"I know." he said. He turned around so that they faced away from each other. He stood there for a moment, as if unsure what to do. He then started to step away.
Shura suddenly felt his hand catch hold of hers, tugging her slightly since he hadn't entirely stopped moving yet.
He said, "Shura… don't die."
She quietly said, "Don't worry. I won't lose."
The figure on the road vanished entirely. Shura turned around. There he was… standing on top of a boulder some feet away. Because of the sunlight, she still couldn't make out his face.
What speed. I've never met someone who could move like that.
"I've been waiting for this Shura!" said Jaken.
He jumped down so that he was standing right in front of Shura. She was able to easily analyze his features now. Much to her horror, she found him ridiculously good looking.
Her eyes quickly shifted over to the weapons strapped to his belt—a pair of long curved swords with short handles made of embroidered silver and with bunches of red thread tied to the end.
Keitou-Tachi. A good match for my katana.
The tachi was once the primary sword for the samurai and for many, still was. In recent years though, it had begun to fall out of style as the somewhat shorter katana saw greater use.
Jaken now put a hand to his chin as he eyed Shura.
He said, "My my… what a woman. A legendary swordsman and a looker too… It's a shame I have to kill you when you'd make such an excellent wife."
Shura smiled. "Sorry, but I already have a man."
He said, "Is that so? That man over there? That's fine. I don't mind sharing."
"Come now, did you come here for a fight or not?"
"So I did." said Jaken, "I suppose it's time we got started."
Shura said, "Tell me something. Did you encounter the spirit of a demon before arriving here?"
Jaken said, "I did indeed. Even now, it possesses me."
"And yet you are not under his control? How strangely gracious of him."
"The brute intends to see if my body is really up to facing you. You don't need to worry. I promise you I'm strong enough to kill you."
"If he brought you here… then you must be strong. How exciting." said Shura.
Jaken said, "Let's find out then if the other's strength is all we hope it to be."
Shura said, "All the others were weak. So disappointing."
Jaken said, "Garbage, every single one of them."
She said, "Can you cut me? Make me bleed."
"I've fought so many swordsmen. So many thought that they were the strongest. All of them fell with ease. Show me my limits Shura!"
"Can you satisfy this lust of mine? Won't you make me feel good?" said Shura.
From nearby, Haru muttered, "How can you talk to another man like that?"
Jaken said, "Don't let me do all the work! Let me taste your delicious blood."
Both killers ripped out their swords, their bodies controlled by bloodlust and animal instinct. Jaken flew forward, vanishing as he did. He reappeared behind Shura, already aiming a deathblow down her spine. Shura grinned widely she pulled Fujin-Maru behind her back and blocked it. She twisted around to see her opponent mirroring her toothy smile. Both Jaken and Shura swung at same time, blocking what would have been a devastating swing. They quickly twisted their swords around and skillfully maneuvered around the other. Neither Shura nor Jaken had yet utilized their second sword. But the first test of strength was over.
Both swung again. Such powerful and precise blows would have taken the head off of any ordinary combatant. As their swords connected, their second blades now made their appearance. Rather than connect, they quickly dodged to the side. They swung down at where their opponent had reappeared. Shura rolled to the left while Jaken did a back flip.
As Shura pulled herself to her feet, the tie to her hair came loose, cut cleanly in half. Her hair easily slipped out of it. Its considerable length now draped freely down her back while the excess rested on her shoulders.
Shura started to laugh wildly. She said, "What strength! Finally! Someone who can exchange blows with me! I've waited so long for you. At last, I can go all out!"
Author's Note: Obvious subtext and tension? What in the world do you mean?
Secondary Note: Part 2 of Manslayers will be released this Wednesday! :O